With the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games taking place in the summer of 2020, athletes in all Olympic disciplines are hard at work to qualify. Equestrian disciplines are no different, and the Ocala Jockey Club International 3-Day Event, Nov. 14-17, is proud to serve as the only Olympic qualifying Event in the Southeast USA for 3-Day Eventing. Best described as an equestrian triathlon, the same horse and rider combination competes in 3 different disciplines over the course of 3 days – dressage, show jumping, and the popular cross-country competition which includes around 10 minutes of galloping over rolling hills with up to 40 cross-country jumps such as logs and water crossings.
“To serve as an Olympic qualifying event in just the 4th running of this event speaks to the quality of Marion County for equestrian sport in general, and the Ocala Jockey Club in particular”, said Pavla Nygaard, President of the Ocala Jockey Club. The excellent footing, viewing opportunities and stunning spectator-friendly rolling hill terrain have propelled the Ocala Jockey Club International 3-Day Event to bring $1 million of annual economic impact to Marion County and to win the 2018 Florida Sports Foundation Small Market Event of the Year Award. In recognition of its sports tourism value, the event has been generously supported with a grant by the Marion County Visitors & Convention Bureau (MCVCB) as well as numerous local and national sponsors.
Dan Millstead of Equine Turf is again in charge of developing the turf gallops and arenas. The cross-country courses are designed by Olympic Individual Silver medalist Clayton Fredericks under the wing of Mike Etherington-Smith, the course designer for the Sydney and Beijing Olympic Games, as Course Adviser. In a Horse Capital TV video preview, Mike Etherington-Smith says: “It is a designer’s dream to be able to design at a venue like this. We both have been involved in eventing all over the world for many, many years. This features one of the best venues around. It really is spectacular. There is mature parkland, there are mature trees. Over the last few years, there has been a huge amount of work on the ground, to upgrade the footing, and that’s the most important thing. It’s just a fantastic place to do it.”